Never content to play their brand of thrashy, high-octane hardcore straight, Philadelphia punks Nine of Swords fashioned their latest album as a catapult to launch themselves beyond their perceived limits—to take them, as it were, Beyond the Swords. It’s their third record since their formation in 2013, their first in the six years since their sophomore LP You Will Never Die, and it serves as a double-edged renewal of their musical vows: a recent tweet promises “This band ends when one of us dies,” and in their latest bio, they’ve billed themselves anew as a “hardcore band for people who don’t like hardcore,” extending an open hand to first-time listeners.
On singles like “Joan”—an ode to Joan of Arc—Nine of Swords are as fast, loud, and caustic as ever, but they’ve also honed their sense of dynamics to a cutting edge. They wield bright guitars alongside the howling rasp of Rachel Gordon’s vocals with broadsword power one moment and rapier-like agility the next. They digress into instrumental piano on “Holy Smoke” just long enough to let you catch your breath, then come crashing back with “Reversed” in all its flurrying snares and cymbals.
As harsh and angry as it is, concerned with personal anguish and loss, the band also stresses the positive side of Beyond the Swords. “It’s raw in its emotions, but it’s about transcending that,” Gordon shares. “Beyond the swords: moving past the pain that impales you.” With the full album out now via Quiet Year Records, Gordon unpacked the stories behind all 12 tracks, which will also be getting the full-length visual treatment. You can stream the record and check out the new video for “Silent Waters” below.
1. “With Help”
During the pandemic a friend was going through an intense mental health crisis. While their diagnosis was a relief as it led them to get the proper treatment, it left me feeling helpless. It was a whole new level of, “I want to be there for my friend, but this is out of my wheelhouse. I can lend an ear but that feels futile.” I just want them to feel safe. I like how “Get the fuck out of your head” sounds like a command, but really it was written as a prayer.
2. “The Pavement”
Horrible men. Simply the worst.
3. “Of Anguish”
Labor is labor. There is no “unskilled” labor. I’ve been thinking about how in the wake of tragedies and social movements, businesses and corporations take up all the oxygen in the room to center themselves as pioneers of progress, but really all they care about is the optics of progress. Never a raise, never sustainable conditions.
4. “What Is Love”
Another “horrible men” anthem. I am exhausted from being romanticized in intimate relationships and not seen as a full, complex human being.
5. “Silent Waters”
My mom died suddenly and unexpectedly in March 2021. This song is very much about her. But it's also about grief overall, and how arbitrary and unfair loss is. You will lose someone you love, and it won’t make any sense. I promise.
6. “Holy Smoke”
Jack played piano when we were practicing once, and Chris recorded it and put some effects on it. It’s just a little breather before side B.
7. “Reversed”
I’m a caretaker, but sometimes I need a caretaker! Riddle me that!
8. “Need You Here”
I described this one to a friend as being the “don’t kill yourself” song. More specifically, though, I was thinking a lot about how mental wellbeing can’t keep up with the never-ending cascade of illusions and inhumane creative pressure enforced by the internet. It’s too easy to feel worthless. But you are more than whatever about you is shareable.
9. “Beyond the Swords”
Another grief song, this time about a friend who overdosed. I took a moment to question the arguable selfishness that accompanies grieving this kind of loss, similar to grieving losing someone to suicide. Loving is complicated and it can be exhausting keeping an open mind about this kind of loss when you just want to take a break from considering all the nuances and just fucking hang out with your dead friend.
10. “Untouchable”
Yep, more horrendous men just doing what they do.
11. “Joan”
This is written from the imagined perspective of Joan of Arc, who was burned at the stake for heresy and other nonsense. No one could handle the thought of god being in cahoots with a teenage girl and not them. Well, sucks to suck, losers!
12. “False Moon Redux”
I have a tendency in my relationships to make myself as small as possible and tell myself that as long as the other person is happy and has their needs met, then this will work. That mentality is obviously flawed and a byproduct of having divorced parents. It also makes me lose sight of what “working” is. The relationship is not “working” if I’m crying everyday. My feelings and needs count just as much as the other person’s. No one matters more than anyone else.
